Visioning Project results in new process

The Council has been engaged in a Visioning and Strategic Planning project with the goal of implementing changes to the management process and improving its fishery management plans based on stakeholder input. As a direct result of this effort, the advisory panel process is being revised to enhance the role of advisors. The Council is soliciting applications from qualified individuals to serve on its eight advisory panels.

Advisory panels will be composed of individuals with diverse experiences and interests in Mid-Atlantic fisheries. Advisors will play an important role in the fishery management process and will be directly responsible for fishery performance reports that help the Council better understand trends in fisheries and impact of management decisions on stakeholders. In addition, these reports will be considered by the Scientific and Statistical Committee and by the Council in the quota setting process.

The Council is seeking advisors to serve on the following advisory panels:

Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass

Tilefish

Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish

Surfclam and Ocean Quahog

Bluefish

Dogfish (Jointly managed with New England Council)

Monkfish (Jointly managed with New England Council)

Ecosystems, Habitat, and Ocean Planning

Advisory panel members will be appointed during the next meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council scheduled for April 10-12, 2012 in Duck, NC. Appointed advisors will serve a term of 3 years.

Anyone interested in serving as a member on one of these advisory panels can submit an application to the Mid- Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N. State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901, email the form to info1@mafmc.org or fax it to (302) 674-5399. Please note as the subject on your email or fax: ADVISORY PANEL. Applications can be obtained by visiting http://www.mafmc.org/, or by contacting the Council office at (877) 446-2362.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is one of eight fishery management councils responsible for the management of marine fisheries in the United States Exclusive Economic Zone. The council develops management plans for twelve species of fish and species off the coast of the Mid-Atlantic region.